Hotwire bargain

We're headed to Vegas next week, Mon.- Fri. We go to Vegas 4 or 5 times a year and usually rent from Alamo. Between being an Alamo Insider and the various discount offers we always seem to get good deals. Since this would be a midweek trip I was expecting a little little higher rate than on weekends but try as I might the best I could do for a 4 day midsize was $243. I kept holding off until I got a trvelzoo e-mail that steered me to Hotwire. I put in the dates and it came up with a full size for $112. Naturally it wouldn't tell me the rental car company until I accepted the deal. For that price I went ahead and booked it. Who does the rental car company turn out to be? You guessed it - Alamo!!! I'm still attempting to make some sense out of it but have given up trying.

Wes

I rent, almost exclusively with National. I am Emerald Executive and their prices are usually competetive or better than anyone else. However, sometimes I can't get a good deal and I turn to Hotwire to see if they have a special. Almost everytime I have used them, I wound up getting the car from National. I apologize to the National folks for going elsewhere, but tell them that saving $75-$100 on a weekly rental is going to always take me somewhere else.

I have to go to Jersey for my cars as NYC prices are usually too high. Occasionally, Hotwire will offer a special price at LaGuardia or Kennedy and I grab it to avoid the trek to Jersey. However, with the gas prices now so high, I am much more willing to take the bus to Atlantic City rather than rent a car.

Ned in NYC

I have used Hotwire in Florida twice (Tampa and Orlando) and in Vegas once. Those instances saved me beau coup dollars. I got Alamo each time. I see no downside except they have your money in advance and I never want to be in that situation unless the savings are large.